5/10/2020

Version Number: 02

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS We value your honest feedback and opinions to ensure our project appropriately addresses local values and concerns. Feedback provided is being used to inform assessments and refine the Project design. This Frequently Asked Questions document will be used to respond to questions received about the project. This document will be updated over time to capture new questions.

You can click on the following links to go to the question of direct interest to you:

What is the Project status? ...... 2 Who is ? ...... 3 Who is EPS? ...... 3 What is the Project? ...... 3 What is the history of wind farms in the region and on the site? ...... 4 How will the community be engaged and provide input on the proposal?...... 4 Where is the Project located? ...... 5 Why is the Project proposed to be located where it is? ...... 6 Why is the Project being developed? ...... 6 How far along is the Project in being approved and what is the Project timeline? ...... 7 How many jobs will be created and will you source them locally? ...... 7 How else will the community benefit from the Project? ...... 7 Is the Project permanent? ...... 8 How do wind farms work? ...... 8 How will issues such as fire and pest animals be managed during the life of the Project? ... 8 Will the project facilitate the spread of weeds? ...... 8 How will the Rangoon affect my property value? ...... 9 Which roads will be utilised for Project traffic during the construction phase?...... 9 What are electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and will they interrupt mobile, Internet, WiFi or television signals? ...... 10

RANGOON ENERGY PARK CONTACT EMAIL Rangoon Energy Park Pty Ltd PO Box 1639 [email protected] ABN: 94 628 009 889 VIC 3001 https://meridianenergy.com.au/rangoonwindfarm/ 0483 193 310

Do EMFs cause or contribute to health impacts? ...... 10 Where will the wind turbines be built and what will they be manufactured from? ...... 11 Do wind farms make noise? ...... 11 Is there potential for bird and bat strike? ...... 12 Will the turbines have lights on them? ...... 12 Will the turbines cause shadow flicker? ...... 13 What will the wind farm look like and will I be able to see it from my house, or from the villages of Ben Lomond and Glencoe? ...... 13 What is the proposed turbine height? ...... 13 What are the heights of the turbines used in other projects in the New England area? ..... 13 Can the Project be modified/increased in scale over time without further approval and opportunity for input by the community?...... 13 Will the project impact on dung beetle populations? ...... 14 Are aerial agriculture operators being considered? ...... 14 Will trees be impacted as a result of the project? ...... 14 Why is the Project sometimes referred to as an ‘Energy Park’?...... 15 Will the land be re-zoned or re-classified?...... 15 What is the end of life arrangements for the wind turbines and how are they disposed of? ...... 15

What is the Project status? The project meets the criteria as State Significant Development (SSD) and will follow the SSD planning pathway.

The project is currently in the assessment stage with specialists having prepared the Scoping Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) report for submission to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

The Scoping Report was lodged late June 2020 and has been followed by the release of the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) in August 2020.

The SEAR’s outline the matters to be assessed in the project EIS report and can be found at https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/project/37936

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The EIS is anticipated to be lodged with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) in March 2021.

The community will have the opportunity to review the assessment documentation after March 2021 and provide their views on the project during the public exhibition period for the proposal.

More about the process can be found on the DPIE website: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/assessment/state-significant- development/ssd-process

Who is Meridian Energy Australia? Meridian Energy Australia (MEA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Meridian Energy Limited (Meridian), Australasia’s largest 100% renewable energy generator and the largest electricity generator in . MEA own and operate two wind farms and 3 hydro-electric power stations in Australia and sell electricity and gas to customers in , , NSW and Queensland through their retail company Australia.

Who is EPS? Meridian has appointed EPS as Development Service Provider for the project. EPS is an Australian-owned and based renewable energy company providing relevant expertise for the creation and development of solar and wind projects in Australia.

What is the Project? Rangoon Wind Farm is a utility scale wind and battery storage plant with an installed capacity of up to 130MW.

The project includes the following key components:

• Between 23 and 26 wind turbines, each with three blades mounted on a tubular steel tower are proposed for the project. Design works are underway to determine the number, size and location of wind turbines and battery energy storage system; • Two substations and transmission connections – linking the project to the existing TransGrid 132kV Armidale to Glen Innes transmission line and the 66kV Glen Innes to Guyra distribution line;

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• Battery Energy Storage System – 100MW/400MWh to be located at one or either of the two project substations; and • Associated infrastructure including equipment storage facilities, access tracks, permanent monitoring masts, laydown areas and construction compounds.

The total 130MW wind plus battery storage project will feed into the National Electricity Market (NEM), generating enough renewable energy to power ~58,000 residential homes per year.

What is the history of wind farms in the region and on the site? Due to the wind resource of the region, landholder support and location of previous wind farm proposals, the Project has evolved from two previously proposed wind farms.

Ben Lomond wind farm included approximately 9,990 hectares with a total of 98 wind turbine generators across 13 privately owned rural landholdings within the Glen Innes Severn and Guyra Shire local government areas. Following the issuing of SEARs an EIS was prepared but not lodged with the former Department of Planning (now DPIE). The RWF North area overlaps the old Ben Lomond wind farm with approximately 4 – 5 associated landholdings in common.

Box Hill wind farm covered approximately 1000 hectares with a total of up to 12 wind turbine generators across privately owned rural landholdings within the Guyra Shire local government area. Box Hill wind farm was granted development consent (Development Approval No. 29- 2004/2005) on 9 February 2005 by the then Guyra Shire Council and has achieved physical commencement. The RWF South area and the Box Hill wind farm are the same site located on the same landholding.

The two previously proposed wind farms conducted various assessments including a wind resource assessment in each area that identified several elevated ridgelines that had the potential for the installation of wind turbines. Turbine layouts were prepared for the previous wind farms which included a larger number of turbines than what is proposed under this application. The reduction in the number of turbines is the result of an improvement in the efficiency and scale of wind turbine technology. As such, the number of turbines and their geographical location has significantly reduced from the two earlier proposals.

How will the community be engaged and provide input on the proposal? Meridian and EPS are committed to a genuine and early community and stakeholder engagement process. As part of this process, we will be seeking a collaborative approach with the local community, key stakeholders and the relevant Councils. At this stage, we have released information brochures, newsletters and feedback forms (also available on the project website). We have been in direct contact via email and telephone with neighbouring landowners seeking their feedback and views on all aspects of the proposal.

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During the design phase, the engagement process has been modified to take into account the COVID-19 pandemic currently impacting parts of Australia and to comply with the New South Government Department of Health’s Order issued under the Public Health Act 2010 which has previously limited gatherings and social contact. Accordingly, non-direct contact is proposed in this early phase of engagement and we encourage interested stakeholders to contact EPS and Meridian and register their interest in finding out more at: www.meridianenergy.com.au/rangoonwindfarm/

Over July 2020 to February 2021 EPS are meeting directly with neighbouring landowners and holding community information sessions. The community information sessions dates and times are as follows:

Ben Lomond Community Hall • 2pm – 5pm Thursday 8th October • 8.30am – 11.30am Friday 9th October • 2pm – 5pm Thursday 22nd October • 8.30am – 11.30am Friday 23rd October

Glencoe Community Hall • 2pm – 5pm Wednesday 14th October • 8.30am – 11.30am Thursday 15th October

Six further drop-in sessions will be held in November – December 2020. These sessions will be advertised closer to the dates.

The aim is to hold information sessions face-to-face, however this is subject to COVID-19 public gathering restrictions. Alternatively, digital methods (telephone calls and emails) will be utilised to meet with project stakeholders, including community members.

Where is the Project located?

The project is located within both Glen Innes Severn Council and Armidale Regional Council local government areas. The project is located across two sections - Rangoon Wind Farm

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(RWF) North and South, near the villages of Ben Lomond and Glencoe, NSW. The site is positioned along the New England Highway approximately 60km north of Armidale, and 25km south of Glen Innes. A preliminary turbine layout has been developed and is subject to refinement based on the outcomes of consultation, design investigations and environmental assessments. The preliminary layout can be viewed here: https://meridianenergy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200703-RWF-Draft-Layout- Plans-for-Public-Release.pdf

Why is the Project proposed to be located where it is? The Project location is the result of an extensive wind site identification assessment, examining potential project areas based on several criteria including:

• Local topography, vegetation and geotechnical (ground) conditions • Proximity to the electricity grid • Consideration of known wind projects proximal to a proposed project area and the potential for impact on local capacity and connection opportunities • Wind speed and direction assessment • Agreements with landowners to host a project • Land assessment, such as land used for agricultural land, to reduce the likelihood of the project development encountering significant areas of native vegetation, Aboriginal cultural heritage items or other environmental constraints • Environmental analysis of ecology and archaeology • Favourable topography and geotechnical conditions for constructing and operating a wind project • Proximity to towns but equally enough distance between the site and urban populated areas • Suitable infrastructure surrounding the project area e.g. road access for construction and operation of a wind development • Stakeholder and community feedback

We believe that this project will provide a strong net benefit to the community and the region in terms of clean reliable energy and long term economic and ongoing employment benefits.

Why is the Project being developed? NSW mix of energy supply sources is rapidly evolving with coal-fired power generation decreasing and the percentage of energy, in particular , from lower cost renewable energy sources increasing. Broadly, NSW recognises that high volumes of solar and wind coupled with dispatchable generation and the right grid stability services can safely deliver more affordable and long term sustainable energy solutions to NSW.

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The Project will contribute to the Federal Government’s objective to achieve an additional 33GW of electricity from renewable sources under the Renewable Energy Target.

The generating capacity of the Project is equivalent to:

• Reducing ~369,000 tonnes of GHG emissions each year; • Powering ~58,000 homes each year; • Taking ~180,000 cars off the road; • Planting ~65,000 trees.

How far along is the Project in being approved and what is the Project timeline? The Project is in its early stages. A Scoping Report has been submitted to DPIE and the Project has been issued its SEARs by DPIE. It is now preparing an EIS and will be lodging the EIS in February/March 2021. If approved it will take a number of years to complete pre-construction and construction works, before the wind farm is operational.

The turbines have a life span of approximately 25 – 30 years and will either be decommissioned or retro-fitted at the end of their design life.

How many jobs will be created and will you source them locally? During construction, this Project will create employment opportunities for an estimated 150 full time equivalent jobs.

During its 25 – 30 year operational lifetime, the project will generate up to an estimated 10 equivalent full-time jobs.

There will be opportunities for local engagement and employment for a variety of services and equipment required to construct the Project, including site preparation services, construction material supplies, structure assembly, electrical services, installation and general labour services.

Employing local services is mutually beneficial as it provides opportunities for locals to be involved in the Project in a remunerated capacity and it is substantially more cost-effective for the Project development, as it negates the need for additional costs associated with a non- local labour force.

How else will the community benefit from the Project? The Project will provide a direct benefit to the community in the form of a community fund. The Community Fund is intended for the local community who are hosting the Project to assist with funding environmental, social and economic development opportunities for the community. More details about the Local Community Fund, including the allocation rules and management of the fund, will be developed with the Community Consultation Committee once it is established in late 2020.

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Is the Project permanent? The Project is expected to operate for about 25 – 30 years with further consideration to extending the life of the Project to be given at that time. Decommissioning and restitution of the land will occur during the decommissioning phase.

Rehabilitation upon decommissioning will leave the land in a similar condition to pre- development. Upon decommissioning, most infrastructure is removed, and the land is remediated and available for the same activities it was prior to development, including agricultural activities.

How do wind farms work? Summary from Australian Renewable Energy Agency:

• Wind turbines use the energy of the wind to spin an electric generator, which produces electricity. • Wind turbines are commonly located on hilltops or near the ocean. In some countries, wind turbines have also been built in the ocean, either floating on the surface or using giant pylons extending to the sea floor. • Wind turbines come in various shapes, although the windmill is the most common. Some international companies are also exploring ‘airborne wind’, which works like a giant kite. • As the wind does not continuously blow, researchers have developed ways to use energy from wind that also help to maintain a reliable supply of electricity, such as pairing wind farms with solar farms and/or energy storage such as batteries.

For more information: https://arena.gov.au/renewable-energy/wind/

How will issues such as fire and pest animals be managed during the life of the Project? Land management issues such as fire and pest animals will be managed in accordance with Federal, State and Local Government laws and applicable land management practices specifically prepared for the Project.

Will the project facilitate the spread of weeds? During the EIS phase, a Weed Management Protocol is in place for all parties accessing the Rangoon Wind Farm investigation area.

Weed control during construction and the ongoing operation of the Rangoon Wind Farm is a key issue that will be assessed and managed during the Project.

The movement of construction traffic on the Rangoon Wind Farm project site and associated soil disturbance within the project area may increase weed risk. To mitigate this risk, a detailed Weed Management Plan will be prepared and will form part of the Construction Environmental Management Plan for the project. The Weed Management Plan will include vehicle washdown and site access planning/restriction.

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Methods which will be considered to control the spread of weeds include (but are not limited to) utilising wash down facilities and ongoing active weed control for all construction areas during the construction and operation of the wind farm. Persons performing work relating to the development and ongoing operation of the wind farm, including utility maintenance, roading or earthmoving nature, on-site consultations or assessments, deliveries or other visits in areas will undertake appropriate inductions and weed hygiene measures.

How will the Rangoon Wind Farm affect my property value? The issue of property value is an extremely complex one with fluctuations in price being subject to a vast number of factors – some of which are measurable such as the productive capacity of the land and many of which are subjective, such as the amount of access to services, the condition of houses or improvements, views, amenity of the local area and the availability of infrastructure servicing such as electricity.

The NSW Government has considered the question of impacts on property values as a result of wind farm development. The independently prepared report for the NSW Government (Urbis, 2016) is located: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/communities/wind-farm-value-impacts- report.pdf

The Report concludes: • “Based on the outcome of these research techniques, it is [Urbis’] expert opinion that windfarms may not significantly impact rural properties used for agricultural purposes. • There is limited available sales data to make a conclusive finding relating to value impacts on residential or lifestyle properties located close to wind farm turbines, noting that wind farms in NSW have been constructed in predominantly rural areas.”

Which roads will be utilised for Project traffic during the construction phase? The Project is located adjacent to a major highway. Site entry will be from the highway through direct linking local roads and into the site. The impact on local road networks will be ameliorated through construction traffic planning and road upgrades where necessary.

Typically, for this type of development a Traffic Impact Assessment and Traffic Management Plan to manage the construction traffic must be prepared in consultation with the relevant government departments prior to the commencement of construction works. School bus routes and other transport activities important to the local community will be considered in detail as part of this plan.

Road dilapidation surveys will be completed prior to construction, and post construction and any remediation works will be completed in consultation with the local Councils and Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).

While the intention is to avoid vegetation clearing as part of the site access, the Project is likely to require some vegetation trimming and/or removal to facilitate access to the site. The Traffic

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Impact Assessment will involve a detailed review of site access options and will determine the requirements for vegetation removal based on modelling of road geometry, project component size and transport machinery.

An informational video on site access for turbine components can be viewed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6MP-fci_qo&feature=emb_logo

What are electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and will they interrupt mobile, Internet, WiFi or television signals? Electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are a naturally occurring phenomena, as well as being produced by human activity. For example, electrical equipment ranging from high voltage transmission lines (powerlines) to household items such as a television, mobile phone, computer, hair dryer – even a kettle, all produce EMFs with fields increasing with voltage and current respectively.

For example, the strength of the EMF from high voltage transmission lines is highest directly under the centreline and begins decreasing in strength as you move away from the transmission line and dropping to background levels within 50 - 100 metres from the centreline. The Project will connect to the existing transmission and distribution networks on the project site.

Where necessary, the Project design will adhere to the clearance distances for safety purposes and incorporate suitable buffers to limit exposures in accordance with a number of technical and legislative requirements. There should be little to no interruptions of communication signals as a result of the Project or associated infrastructure.

Do EMFs cause or contribute to health impacts? We understand that some people are genuinely concerned about possible health effects from electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and are committed to addressing these concerns responsibly.

Australia has adopted the safety regulations recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The public health and safety standards recommended by the WHO are based on a very large body of peer-reviewed science. From in excess of 25,000 articles published, the WHO, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and other international safety bodies advise that the weight of evidence shows that there are no substantiated or established health effects from exposure to EMF’s.

The Project has a legal, environmental and ethical obligation to deliver a renewable energy project that operates safely and responsibly, without posing risk to any members of the general public. At all times, the operation of the wind farm will be undertaken safely and responsibly with EMF’s below WHO and Australian standards.

With respect to health concerns, over 17 international health reports produced including our own National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have found there to be no health impacts from wind turbines.

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Where will the wind turbines be built and what will they be manufactured from? Most wind turbines components (blades and nacelles) are likely to be imported as there are very limited Australian made components yet in production. Where possible, other materials may be sourced locally.

Modern wind turbines rapidly recover all the energy spent in manufacturing, installing, maintaining, and finally decommissioning them. Under normal wind conditions it takes on average between two months to a year for a turbine to recover all of the energy involved in the turbines manufacture.

A study, ‘Life cycle assessment of a wind turbine’ (Nalukowe et al,2006) examined the energy efficiency of a typical wind turbine. The aim of this study was to assess the environmental effects during the whole life cycle of the wind turbine (from raw material extraction to waste management). Therefore the study examined the details of all the phases in order to establish all the environmental effects associated with the wind turbine throughout its whole lifetime.

The manufacturing phase was identified as the crucial phase in the life cycle of the wind turbine because it yields the biggest environmental impacts. The type of electricity generation used to manufacture the turbine can greatly influence the environmental impacts of the manufacturing process. The greener the energy used to manufacture a turbine, the less the environmental impacts.

The study calculated the efficiency of the whole system by dividing the total energy output over the life time of the wind turbine (based on 20 years, although the RWF project life is 25- 30 years) by the total energy input over the life time of wind turbine (which is what is being consumed during the manufacturing process and 20 year lifespan).

The following data was used:

• the total energy input over the life time = 7,795 MWh • the total energy output over the life time = 157,800 MWh

η = 157,800 / 7,795 = 20.24 where η is the efficiency. It means that the amount of energy generated is 20.24 times greater than energy consumed over the wind turbines life time. The study concluded that wind energy is efficient and energy-profitable.

Do wind farms make noise? The Victorian Department of Health (2014) provides the following:

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“Wind turbines generate mechanical and aerodynamic sounds. Mechanical sounds come from the internal machinery and may also be generated from a faulty component. Mechanical sound from turbines has decreased significantly over time as turbine design has improved.

Aerodynamic sound is generated by the rotation of turbine blades through the air, and is the main source of sound from wind farms”

A Preliminary Noise Impact Assessment (PNIA) has been completed for the Rangoon Wind Farm project as part of the Scoping Phase which is available on the Project website and the DPIE website. The PNIA demonstrates the Rangoon wind farm is expected to be compliant with the NSW Government Wind Energy Framework, specifically, the Wind Energy: Noise Assessment Bulletin. A detailed noise assessment will be completed as part of the EIS phase. Once constructed, the Rangoon wind farm will need to demonstrate compliance with the noise impact assessment by undertaking a detailed monitoring and compliance testing regime.

Is there potential for bird and bat strike? As part of the EIS phase (July 2020 to March 2021) targeted bird and bat surveys are being completed for the assessment of the impacts of wind turbine strikes on relevant protected animals.

Will the turbines have lights on them? Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has set guidelines in relation of obstacle marking and lighting of wind farms for the purposes of aviation safety (See Guideline D – National Airports Safeguarding Framework: Managing the Risk to Aviation Safety of Wind Turbine Installations (Wind Farms)/Wind Monitoring Towers). It is unknown at this stage if lighting of the proposed Rangoon Wind Farm turbines will be required.

During the EIS phase, an Aeronautical Risk Assessment will be completed by an aviation specialist and submitted to CASA to enable an assessment of any potential risk to aviation safety. CASA may determine that the proposal is:

(a) hazardous, but that the risks to aircraft safety would be reduced by the provision of approved lighting and/or marking; or

(b) not a hazard to aircraft safety.

The 109 metre monitoring mast located within the Project site does not have any aviation lighting but is marked using marker balls on the guy wires and the top third of the mast painted so as to be easily identifiable to pilots in the area. The mast will also be located on CASA’s NOTAM maps.

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Will the turbines cause shadow flicker? Shadow flicker is a term used to describe the change in light intensity observed when a wind turbine blade casts an intermittent shadow upon a receptor.

As part of the EIS phase, the theoretical shadow flicker will be modelled by considering potential receptors (homes) in relation to wind turbines and sun position to understand the potential for shadow flicker and appropriate mitigation measures.

What will the wind farm look like and will I be able to see it from my house, or from the villages of Ben Lomond and Glencoe? As the project is in its early stages, a preliminary layout has been prepared and a Preliminary Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment has been conducted which is available on the Project website and DPIEs website. The assessment addresses various locations within the region where the Project may be visible. Over the next 3 – 6 months, throughout the EIS assessment phase, further refinement of the layout will be undertaken, and a detailed Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment will be completed which will inform where the Project may be visible from. This assessment will be completed in consultation with neighbouring landowners and the community.

Examples of wind farms can be seen in the New England Region between Glen Innes and .

What is the proposed turbine height? The proposed turbine technology has not been selected. A number of different turbine models are being investigated. The Project is seeking approval for a maximum tip height of 250m.

What are the heights of the turbines used in other projects in the New England area? The 75 turbines are 200m to blade tip. The site is in Inverell Shire Council and Glen Innes Severn Council areas.

The is located in the New England Tablelands approximately 20 km west of Glen Innes and 40 km east of Inverell. Stage one saw the construction of 70 turbines measuring 150m to blade tip. Stage 2 plans 48 turbines measuring 200m to blade tip.

Can the Project be modified/increased in scale over time without further approval and opportunity for input by the community? Under Section 4.55 or Section 4.56 of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act), an applicant may seek approval for modifications to a State significant development (SSD) development consent at any time. These modifications may be necessary to improve the design of the project or to vary the conditions of consent.

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The process for seeking modifications will vary depending on the scale and nature of the proposed modifications, and any statutory requirements.

To be entitled to modify a project, the development as modified must be substantially the same as the development for which consent was originally granted. The application for modification must be publicly exhibited for 14-28 days and each person who made a submission to the original development application must be notified.

Will the project impact on dung beetle populations? As part of the EIS phase (July 2020 to March 2021) a Biodiversity Assessment will be completed. The Biodiversity Assessment will consider the relevant flora and fauna of the Project area and surrounding locality in relation to the proposal.

It is understood that the University of New England is a national centre for dung beetle research (Source: https://www.une.edu.au/connect/news/2018/03/discerning-dung- beetles-valuable-and-vital-to-agriculture). Researchers at University of New England have modelled the effects of climate change on dung beetles and have noted that “available evidence suggests that climate change will have a substantial impact on dung beetles”. (Source: https://www.une.edu.au/about-une/faculty-of-science-agriculture-business-and- law/school-of-science-and-technology/research/mathematical-analysis-and- modeling/research-grants/our-research-projects/climate-change-dung-beetles). As the Project will assist in contributing to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the impact of climate change, it is considered that it will have a positive impact on dung beetles. However, this will be considered in further detail as part of the Project EIS phase.

Are aerial agriculture operators being considered? MEA and EPS have undertaken preliminary consultation with local aerial contractors as well as the Aerial Application Association of Australia (AAAA).

As part of the EIS assessment, an Aviation Risk Assessment will be completed which will take into account aerial agriculture and include further consultation and liaison with local aerial agriculture operators, to understand any potential impacts on operations.

Will trees be impacted as a result of the project?

MEA has taken a proactive approach to minimise impact on trees, including desktop review, aerial photo review, ground-truthing and refining the entire design on the ground via vehicle and foot. The project follows design guiding principles (e.g. ensuring that existing tracks and disturbed areas are used for the project where possible) and mostly occupies open agricultural lands with some paddock trees and scattered trees near the project areas. The maximum tree impact of the Rangoon Wind Farm is considered to be relatively low for the scale of the

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project. The EIS will detail and assess the final design and trees that may need to be removed for the project.

Why is the Project sometimes referred to as an ‘Energy Park’? The Project is called Rangoon Wind Farm. The registered business name is Rangoon Energy Park Pty Ltd.

Will the land be re-zoned or re-classified? The State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 (Infrastructure SEPP) Division 4 states that development for the purpose of electricity generating works may be carried out on any land in the prescribed rural, industrial or special use zones. The Project is on land zoned RU1 – Primary Production and is therefore permitted with consent. As such, no rezoning is required.

What is the end of life arrangements for the wind turbines and how are they disposed of? Overall, a wind turbine can be about 85% recyclable by weight, which includes all the main components within the turbine.

Components that are generally more challenging to recycle relate to composite materials (i.e. produced from thermoset polymers, glass fibre and carbon fibre) used to produce wind turbine blades, as well as covers for the nacelle and hub. For a wind turbine blade, these materials are highly engineered and functionally designed for a long lifetime and operation in harsh environments for 20 to 25 years. As such, by design, these composite material structures are more challenging to recycle at end-of-life and represent around 75% of the non-recyclable materials in a wind turbine.

Many turbine suppliers have established ambitious goals for a circular economy strategy and specific targets to develop a zero-waste wind turbine.

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